Follower for barrels and kegs.



- A. -T. HENDERSON.

FOLLOWBB. FOR BARBELS AND KEG-S.

APPLIGATION FILED 00124, 1910.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH HINOTON. D, c

ARCHIBALD T. HENDERSON, OF CLINTON, IOWA.

FOLLOWER FOR BARRELS AND Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1911.

Application filed October 24, 1910. Serial No. 588,927.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AROHIBALD T. HEN- nnnsox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clinton, county of Clinton, and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Followers for Barrels and Kegs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to followers for bar rels and kegs.

The present invention has for its object, the provision of a novel follower for barrels, kegs, and the like which may be readily pushed down into the receptacle on top of the salt-pork, pickled beef, or other articles frequently exposed for sale in barrels or kegs in grocery and other stores, to hold down and protect the contents and may be readily locked into engagement with the sides of the barrel or keg to retain it in position.

The present invention seeks to provide a device of the character set forth which will have means whereby it can be held with one hand while being locked with the other, or, vice versa, whereby it may be conveniently manipulated under all conditions; a follower which will be light, strong, inexpensive, and durable, and may be readily taken apart and cleaned;a follower of the charac ter set forth having a novel construction, arrangement and adaptation of a cam disk, locking slides, and guides for said slides, together with other improved features and instrumentalities all of which are more fully set forth and recited in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 a perspective view, dotted lines representing the outline of a barrel in which the device is used; Fig. 2, a view with the cam disk removed; Fig. 3, a bottom plan of the cam disk; Fig. 4, a cross section through one of the slides, the follower, and the bearing pintle; Fig. 5, a detail view showing one of the ball races; and Fig. 6, a detail of a slide, showing certain of the balls therefor.

The follower 1 is preferably circular and of a size to adapt it to fit easily within the barrel or keg. Secured to or formed integral with this follower is a handle 2. Rising centrally from the follower is a pintle 3. ixtending radially from the pintle are looking slides 4 which have points 5 in their outer ends. These locking slides have grooved edges 6 which bear. against balls 7 in ball races 8 in guides 9 which radiate from the center of the follower and are grooved at 10 to receive the edges of the slides thereby forming guides for said slides and the balls being employed to minimize friction. Each slide has a lug or pin 11.

J ournaled on the pintle 3 is a cam disk or actuator 12 having a handle 13 which is dis posed below the handle 2 a suflicient distance to permit the hand of the operator to swing around underneath said handle 2 in turning the said disk or actuator when withdrawing or projecting the locking slides. In the under surface of the actuator disk there are a plurality of cam grooves 14 corresponding in number to the pins or lugs 11 and receiving them whereby as the actuator turns on the pintle 3, the slides are projected or retracted by the cam action. A nut 15 suitably connected to the pintle by a removable pin 16, holds the actuator disk down on the guides.

In using the follower, the handle 13 is grasped and turned thus retracting the locking slides. The handle 2 or handles 2 and 13 may then be grasped by both hands and the entire device pressed down upon the contents of the barrel or keg. The operator then retains his hold on the handle 2 and gives the handle 13 a turn whereupon the cams project the slides and cause the locking points to firmly engage the sides of the barrel or keg and retain the device in position so that it will remain protecting the contents of the barrel or keg from flies and dirt until it is desired to remove some of the contents of the barrel or keg whereupon a reversal movement of the handle 13 will retract the locking slides and enable the follower to be removed. The removal of the pin 16 permits the nut to be taken off and the parts quickly detached so that access can be had to the guides, balls, slides and other parts for the purposes of cleaning.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is p In a follower for barrels, the combination with a head or follower having guides provided with grooves, of balls in said grooves, which receive said pins, and a handle for locking slides which travel in the guides and said actuator. 10 are themselves provided with grooves or ball In testimony whereof, I hereunto alfix my races which receive the said balls, pins prosignature in presence of two Witnesses.

jecting from the slides, a central pivot, an ARCHIBALD T. HENDERSON. actuating disk journaled on said pivot and Witnesses:

disposed above the head, said disk being pro- XV. S. GARDNER,

vided with cam grooves in its under face T. J. SI-IEAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Pat ents, Washington, D. C. 

